Former school friends in a handball duel: Weiser vs. Kroiss!

Former school friends in a handball duel: Weiser vs. Kroiss!

On October 24, 2025 there was an exciting duel in the HLA Master League when Samuel Weiser and Jan Kroiss met as former school friends from Salzburg. Weiser, who is 22 years old and plays as a defense chief for the Fivers WAT Margareten, met his oldest friend, the 23-year-old goalkeeper Kroiss, who plays for the BT Füchse from Bruck an der Mur. Despite their long-standing friendship, both emphasize that friendship does not apply on the field. Kroiss explained that he would like to accommodate Weiser, who scored against him in the last game, but in the form of a bet on a cheeseburger.

The two players have a long history that goes back to their childhood, when they were even on the field against Bayern Munich. Weiser had ambitious goals in handball, while Kroiss, who also studies social work in Graz, was about to end his career. However, Weiser motivated Kroiss to continue his sporting career and consider a move to Bregenz, while he himself played in Germany for THW Kiel.

A new beginning for Jan Kroiss

In the meantime, Kroiss was happy about his move to BT Füchsen Auto-Pichler Leoben, where he is now an important part of the goalkeeping team following Julian Mitterdorfer's contract extension. Kroiss, who is 193 cm tall and has experience from the junior national team and participation in the 2021 European Championships, brings a breath of fresh air to goalkeeping planning for the 2025/2026 season. Luka Marinovic, coach of the Foxes, praised Kroiss as a talented goalkeeper with excellent qualities and emphasized the decision to fill the squad with young talents, consisting of Kroiss, Mitterdorfer and Felix Racwalik.

Scientific support for handball sports

While the sport of handball is characterized by personal stories, scientific development is also a central aspect. The German Handball Association (DHB) has introduced Research Profile 2.0 to meet the current requirements of the sport. The aim is a targeted networking between sports practice and science so that relevant questions can be answered. The DHB strives to improve the use of scientific findings and to promote the transfer of knowledge and technology between science and sports practice. This should be ensured through regular updates of the research profile in order to take into account the latest knowledge and development trends in handball.

The connection between players' personal ambitions and scientific support from organizations such as the DHB could advance the development of handball in many ways. As Weiser and Kroiss face competition on the field, it remains to be seen how their individual and professional paths will continue to intertwine.

These developments in handball and the individual stories of Weiser and Kroiss show how sporting rivalry and friendship can shape handball players and clubs. [Krone.at]. In addition, the DHB addresses the important role of scientific research for the future of handball.